Kiper re-grades drafts, gives Raiders C-

ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper re-graded last year’s drafts and gave the Raiders a C-minus. Their top pick, guard/tackle Tony Bergstrom, is a backup and I agree with Kiper’s take on linebacker Miles Burris: He “made some plays, but Burris isn’t a guy who would start for almost any other team right now.”

“The Raiders didn’t go into the draft with high expectations, so it’s not like they needed to be granted a mulligan if they couldn’t find much impact. But even then, I’m not sure they managed to find an above-average regular. Oakland’s first pick wasn’t until No. 95 overall, and in Tony Bergstrom the Raiders got a player who can back up at either tackle or guard. The best value they found was in linebacker Miles Burris, their fourth-round pick out of San Diego State. Burris can play, and was thrust into a significant role early, finishing the season with 14 starts. He made some plays, but Burris isn’t a guy who would start for almost any other team right now. The Raiders were just that thin at the position. Juron Criner has some potential, but questions remain. The Raiders’ best rookie was Rod Streater, an undrafted free agent who provided some significant help at wide receiver, but he doesn’t factor in here because he wasn’t drafted.”